Thanks to the digital age and the information superhighway, small businesses are finding new ways to reach customers and potential customers. Traditional advertising media is still prominent, but the creativity of small business marketers has moved into new realms. One of the growing and popular forms of advertising is text messaging.
From elementary school children to adults, text messaging is the vogue method of communicating today. Subsequently, small businesses can use a simple text message to offer special deals and promote their business to local customers.
Case Study: 7-Eleven and Text Messaging
Take, for example, 7-Eleven. The chain convenience store has announced that it will be conducting test marketing campaigns through text messages in San Diego. Locals who have a cell phone can send a text message to a specific number, and thereafter, they will be eligible to receive a text message back with a code to redeem a free beverage at a participating store.
The goal is to not only offer a special deal for a free beverage, but encourage phone users to “opt in” to receive future messages. 7-Eleven hopes that the opt-in user database will grow, creating a fantastic venue for marketing. Those who participate will be eligible to receive additional text messages for news and other special deals.
How Small Businesses Can Benefit
How can you as a small business owner learn from this experiment? It shows that people are interested in receiving deal offers on their phone while they are on the go. In addition to building your email list, you can also attempt to acquire cell numbers of your customers and other interested parties. With your ever-growing contact list, you can offer deals to customers that are redeemable at your store. You might even send time-limited deals to encourage recipients to act “today.”
You should always offer those on your text message list to opt out at any time. Of course, you want to avoid sending too many text messages that users might find annoying, giving them a reason to opt out. Two text messages a month might be a good starting number.
Texting has become a favorite pastime, especially for the younger generation of Americans. Take advantage of phone texts to help your business grow.
